Team Finland 2014 WJC Roster

With the World Junior Hockey Championships fast approaching, hockey fans are all preparing to watch their national junior teams face off as they represent their home country at a chance for international glory.

This year Team Finland is looking to earn their first medal since their Bronze in 2006 with their strong lineup of 23 strong young Finns, including 6 of which that participated in the World Juniors last year.

The lineup as of now:

Forwards

No.

Player

2012-13 Team

Draft Status

15

Miro Aaltonen

Espoo Blues

Undrafted

10

Joel Armia

Assat Pori

BUF 2011

16

Aleksander Barkov

Tappara Tampere

2013

11

Markus Granlund

HIFK Helsinki

CGY 2011

13

Markus Hannikainen

Jokerit Helsinki

Undrafted

19

Ville Järveläinen

Peliitat Heinola

Undrafted

24

Matti Lamberg

Jokerit Helsinki

Undrafted

28

Artturi Lehkonen

KalPa Kuopio

2013

26

Robert Leino

HPK Hämeenlinna

Undrafted

21

Thomas Nykopp

HIFK Helsinki

Undrafted

23

Saku Salminen

Jokerit Helsinki

2013

22

Miikka Salomaki

Karpat Oulu

NSH 2012

20

Teuvo Teräväinen

Jokerit Helsinki

CHI 2012

Defence

No.

Player

2012-13 Team

Draft Status

8

Henri Auvinen

JYP-Akatemia Jyväskylä

Undrafted

4

Petteri Lindbohm

Jokerit Helsinki

STL 2012

2

Olli Maatta

London Knights (OHL)

PIT 2012

12

Ville Pokka

Karpat Oulu

NYI 2012

3

Juuso Riikola

KalPa Kuopio

Undrafted

5

Rasmus Ristolainen

TPS Turku

2013

27

Juuso Vainio

HPK Hämeenlinna

Undrafted

Goaltenders

No.

Player

2012-13 Team

Draft Status

31

Janne Juvonen

Pelicans Lahti

2013

30

Joonas Korpisalo

Jokerit Helsinki

CBJ 2012

1

Eetu Laurikainen

Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

Undrafted

Players returning to the lineup are Teuvo Teravainen, Artturi Lehkonen, Ville Pokka, Juuso Vainio, Janne Juvonen, Olli Maatta, Aleksander Barkov, and Rasmus Ristolainen. These players are joined by many talented young prospects, 10 of which, including Ristolainen, have already been drafted into the NHL.

Aleksander Barkov, who has played well in his rookie season with the Florida Panthers, will be returning to Team Finland.(Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

Two players expected to be skating for Team Finland were missing from the selection camp but have added to the roster, defenseman Olli Maatta of the Pittsburgh Penguins and center Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers.

Team Finland’s roster looks strong so far, but that is only to be proven through gameplay, which officially begins for the Finns on Friday, December 27 against Team Norway at 11:30AM (Eastern Time).